Texas #Hashtags

Texas designated three official state hashtags in 2015:

#Texas - Hashtag of Texas

#TexasToDo - Hashtag of Texas tourism

#txlege - Hashtag of the Texas Legislature

What is a Hashtag?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines hashtag as; "a word or phrase preceded by the symbol # that classifies or categorizes the accompanying text (such as a tweet)."

#Texas: HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 105

WHEREAS, In the new world of social media, people of every age and background from around the world may take part in an endless conversation about all facets of the Lone Star State by using the hashtag #Texas; and

WHEREAS, In a dynamic, ever-changing stream that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, users of Twitter and other online platforms anywhere on the globe may use #Texas to see what people are saying about Texas and to address other followers of the hashtag on anything and everything pertaining to our great state; and

WHEREAS, At any given moment, this unfiltered discussion can range from serious political discussions to wisecracks, from advertising to comments about the heat in Houston, from complaints and praise about Texas sporting franchises to celebrations of Texas writers, artists, and musicians; and

WHEREAS, Social media is transforming the way people the world over share their beliefs, ideals, wit, and fancies, and the followers of #Texas are provided with an always fascinating and never-ending parade of what people talk about when they talk about Texas; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby designate #Texas as the official hashtag of the state of Texas.

#TexasToDo: HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 106

WHEREAS, Texas Tourism, the state's official tourism marketing entity, is spreading the word about the wonders of the Lone Star State to social media users around the world with its Twitter hashtag, #TexasToDo; and

WHEREAS, A program of the Economic Development and Tourism Office of the Governor, Texas Tourism is active on Twitter with the handle texastourism, where it posts and retweets countless opportunities for recreation across the state, sharing Instagram photos, online articles, and news about upcoming events; and

WHEREAS, The Twitter hashtag #TexasToDo enables individuals, organizations, and communities across the state to publicize and celebrate local activities, while also allowing visitors a one-stop location on Twitter to find exciting ideas for vacations or weekend trips and to share their photographs and experiences; and

WHEREAS, In addition, #TexasToDoFilms provides links to handsomely produced, high-definition videos on Vimeo and YouTube, showcasing such recreational pursuits as kayaking and offshore fishing, as well as such characteristic facets of Texas culture as swimming holes and custom cowboy boots; and

WHEREAS, #TexasToDo is part of a dynamic, cross-platform social media effort that includes the TravelTex website and the Travel Texas app for mobile devices, as well as active Texas Tourism efforts on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Google Plus; and

WHEREAS, This innovative and wide-ranging program brings the marketing of Texas tourism into the 21st century, allowing social media users of all ages, backgrounds, and locations to instantly access information about what to see and do in the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby designate #TexasToDo as the official state hashtag of Texas Tourism.

#txlege: HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 104

WHEREAS, In the 21st century, residents of the Lone Star State of all ages, backgrounds, and political persuasions may directly address their elected legislators through the use of the social media hashtag #txlege; and

WHEREAS, On Twitter and other online platforms, using #txlege enables an engaged citizen to participate in unfiltered democracy, sharing his or her beliefs, principles, complaints, and praise on all subjects related to the Texas Legislature directly and instantaneously with the world; and

WHEREAS, This ongoing conversation streams endlessly through cyberspace, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as individuals, political parties, lobbyists, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and countless other stakeholders communicate their thoughts about current and proppsed legislation 140 characters at a time; and

WHEREAS, these comments can range widely, from the solemn to the comical, from the serious to the frivolous, and from the polite to the not-so-polite, and taken together, they make up a ceaseless, real-time, and sometimes raw but always fascinating stream-of-consciousness accounting of what Texans want their legislators to know; and

WHEREAS, Social media is transforming political discourse in Texas, across the nation, and around the world, and #txlege represents an opportunity for every Texan to follow and participate in this dynamic and freewheeling debate of the issues of the day; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby designate #txlege as the official hashtag of the Texas Legislature.